Classes help homeowners ace projects

October 31, 2003|By Leslie Mann, Special to the Tribune.

Legal secretary Nancy Crann of Mt. Prospect was already computer-savvy, having taken several computer courses over the years. But a course in basic electricity at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines sparked an interest in combining her techie tendencies and home wiring.

"That led to Wireless Technology, where I learned how to network our family's computers and help a few older neighbors network theirs," says Crann.

FOR THE RECORD - This story contains corrected material, published Nov. 4, 2003.

Next on Crann's to-do list: Oakton's Home Technology Integration course. "Then, I could install security cameras, set up remote controls and all kinds of exciting things," she says.

Crann is among Chicago-area homeowners taking advantage of the growing number of classes and courses that cover home repair, construction, home buying and selling, and decorating. Offered by community colleges, home improvement centers and trade organizations, these classes are often geared specifically toward do-it-yourselfers.

Take Dwight Unruh of Palatine. He was always handy around the house, he says. "I could paint or patch walls, but I was afraid to monkey with electricity."

So he enrolled in an electrical wiring course at William Rainey Harper College in Palatine. There, he says, he learned what building codes allow and don't allow. But the best part, he says, were the hands-on lessons in wiring. Now, he plans to use his newfound skills to replace the ceiling light in his bedroom and fix an outlet in his dining room that hasn't worked from the get-go. As for his studies, Unruh has only begun. In December, he will attend Harper's Introduction to Cabinetmaking session. He'll take basic carpentry in the spring.

A series of drafting courses at the College of DuPage equipped Sandi Cole of Villa Park to draft the permit plans for a new shed, then her kitchen renovation. And the college's building materials course taught her the ins and outs of residential materials, from concrete in a foundation to tile on a backsplash.

"Now, when I hire a contractor, I know I won't get snowed," she says. "I can tell him specifically what I want and how I want it done."

After the dust settles in her new kitchen, Cole plans to draft a new front porch.

Here's a sample of classes. The following is a lineup of what's available this winter and spring. Most are non-credit classes, although some credit classes designed for tradespeople are open to homeowners. Community college fees listed are for students in-district; most fees are higher for out-of-district students.